HC Deb 15 February 1949 vol 461 cc944-5
48. Mr. Keeling

asked the Lord President of the Council how much the film entitled "What a Life" cost; what revenue has been obtained from it; and whether he has any evidence that its declared purpose of persuading people that things are not as bad as they seem has succeeded.

Mr. H. Morrison

£6,260, plus £2,512 for distribution. It is one of 12 films a year supplied and shown free under a long-standing agreement with the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association, so the question of revenue does not arise. This is a light little film about two men who, in the end, take a cheerful view of life's troubles, and there is no reason for thinking it unsuccessful.

Mr. Keeling

Has the Lord President seen this film? Does he know that it shows two men so depressed by the conditions of life in England today that they try to drown themselves, but make a mess of it? Does he really think that that is the sort of film on which £9,000 of the taxpayers' money should be spent without any possibility of a return?

Mr. Morrison

If I may say so, the hon. Member has given a very short and incomplete critical review of the film because he forgot to add that, having attempted to drown themselves—fortunately they did not succeed—they were so happy at having been left alive that they went about cheering up everybody.

Mrs. Mann

Can my right hon. Friend say whether he has any difficulty whatever in persuading, nay in convincing, the people of this country, or does he know of anyone on these benches who has any difficulty in convincing the people, that things are not as bad as they were?

Mr. Morrison

No, Sir.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that these two men, having failed to drown themselves at Southend owing to lack of water, finished up in a free public house where they were well treated, and that it was not a State public house?

Mr. H. D. Hughes

Is not the declared purpose of this film a good deal more patriotic than the object of Conservative propaganda, which is to make things appear worse?

Mr. Drayson

Are not the two men in the film redundant temporary civil servants who sought suicide instead of returning to productive employment?